Sporting Whittlesea is looking to youth as the club heads in a new direction in FFV state league 2 north-west.
Just one player remains from last year’s side, which finished sixth last year after finishing fifth the season before.
Tomas Kovar has taken over the coaching reins from Kevin Theuma, who has joined another state league 2 side, Cairnlea.
Kovar isn’t new to Sporting Whittlesea having been the co-ordinator of the club’s junior program.
He has an extensive coaching and playing experience across Australia, Europe and Asia.
Kovar said the club was keen to develop a program that provided a pathway from junior to senior soccer.
“We’ve brought in some new players – most are younger player,” he said. “Quite a few are 16, 17.
“What we want to achieve is bridging the gap from juniors to seniors, and this is a unique approach in Australia. This is needed to help the younger generation.”
Kovar has already seen a lot of good signs from the players and is keen for other clubs to witness the same traits he sees.
“The young players have a lot of potential to play at the top level,” he said. “Watching them play their first practice match, and playing against players who are in their 30s, was good to see.
“They are part of the future of Australian football.”
The side won’t be just young talent, with three or four players experienced players coming from overseas.
Kovar said they would play an important role.
“The young kids can learn from them,” he said.
“They’re experienced players who have played in the Chinese Super League and first division in Korea.
“They wanted to come to support kids and give back. From my experiences, you learn from not just the coach but the right players on the field.”
Off field, the club has also looked at bringing in new training methods, with yoga and meditation becoming part of the program.
Kovar said that despite the personnel changes, the club still has high expectations for the 2017 season.
“It has to come from the players and the goals are pretty high,” he said.
“The main thing we want to achieve is setting a great example for young people at the club on and off the field.”
